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VIII.—Opoho and the Breeding Ponds.

For a quiet walk, when time presses not, the visitor to Dunedin could not do better than take the tram-car down to Dundas street and there alighting wend his way across the Leith and up to the Northern Cemetery grounds. To a spot like this, the attractions are very varied in character. Some frequent it to show their lasting devotedness to those who have gone before, others simply to read the records of the past and admire the artistic skill displayed in the attempts to perpetuate the memories of very many who formerly acted their part on this busy stage. To the stranger, the view of the city and its surroundings which is obtained is unsurpassed. Many declare it to be the best to be had from any point. So far as that question is concerned, the answer must be relegated to the observer, whose every reply will be—Beautiful, most beautiful.

Leaving the sacred acre, a pleasant and very enjoyable walk can be had through the Town Belt at the present time, the native manuka being in full bloom, filling the air with delicious perfume, regaling the senses with a profusion of delights. Along this road there are many fine vistas. The elder Kean, on his retreat at Loch Fad, in Buteshire, inscribed the immortal quotation:—

"Through this loop-hole of retreat
I gaze upon the world."

And so can the traveller do here. To be appreciated, these peeps must be experienced, and when once beheld, the temptation will be to dwell on them longer than time will permit. So onward our course must be taken to Opoho, a very pleasant place to live in, and where the grounds of the Acclimatization Society are situated. The obliging Curator, Mr. Deans, will be ready, if at home, to show all the curious developments in fish life, from the egg or spawn onward to the matured trout, salmon, perch, or other representative of the finny tribe, and explain the different stages through which they pass, the methods of treatment, the distribution throughout the Province, and the results of all this artificial work. The Opoho grounds were also the source from which the introduced birds, at once the plague and the pleasure of the inhabitants, were liberated and spread over the country to delight the ear with their warbling, contribute to the gastronomic page 275tastes of the wealthy, and make deadly havoc on the fruits in the garden and the grain on the field.

Signal Hill rises up beyond Opoho, and as the ascent is easy, and the road in fair condition, its summit can easily be reached, and a magnificent view of land and water, hill and dale, be obtained. But if the energies have been sufficiently taxed, turn to the left, and soon the North East Valley is reached, the spot in which most of the early settlers made their first suburban selection, and which is now constituted a borough of the same name. Here the tram-car will convey the passenger up the Valley to the old Port Chalmers road, and on the ride, both up and down, some nice scenic views will be obtained, the murmuring brook and the crested mount alike demanding a share of admiration.

Some of our prominent citizens have elected the Valley as the place of their abode, and have erected handsome mansions, with tastefully laid out gardens and orchards.

This Valley, forty years ago, was a dense forest. There was not a single acre of clear ground throughout its length and breadth, so that judging from this fact alone, the mighty change which has passed over the scene may, to some extent, be realized. The clearance has not been effected without great labour and considerable cost. Add to this the fact that a large number of the early settlers were as little acquainted with bush work and tree felling as dwellers in town usually are, and the traveller may form some idea of the magnitude of the labour involved.